V2. Wei and the Fickle Winds of Fortune
Little Thinkers (Ages 7-10)
Before You Read 🧐
- The title mentions “fickle winds of fortune.” What do you think the word fickle means? (Hint: It means something that changes often and unpredictably!)
- Have you ever had something happen that seemed bad at first but turned out to be good in the end? Tell the story.
On the rolling green hills of a peaceful valley lived a wise woman named Wei. She was known throughout the countryside for her calm spirit and her magnificent horse, a mare as swift as the wind.
One morning, Wei went to the stable to find it empty. The gate was unlatched, swinging softly in the breeze. Her horse was gone. Her neighbors rushed over, their faces full of concern. “Wei!” they cried. “Your prized horse has vanished! This is terrible luck!” Wei gazed at the empty field, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Terrible luck? Good luck? Who can say? We shall see.”
Months passed. Then one afternoon, a thunder of hooves echoed across the valley. It was Wei’s mare, and trotting right beside her was a handsome wild stallion! The neighbors gathered, their eyes wide with amazement. “Wei, you are the luckiest woman alive!” they cheered. “Not only did your horse return, but she brought a friend. What wonderful luck!” Wei watched the two horses, a small smile playing on her lips. “Wonderful luck? Terrible luck? Who can say? We shall see.”
[Pause and Wonder… During Your Reading] 🤔 The neighbors are sure this is “wonderful luck.” Farmer Wei is not so sure. Why do you think she is more cautious than her neighbors?
Her daughter, Lian, a brave and curious girl, was determined to befriend the new stallion. She approached him with an apple, but the wild horse was not yet tame. He shied away suddenly, knocking Lian to the ground. She landed hard, breaking her arm with a cry of pain. The neighbors came running. “Your poor daughter!” they moaned. “To be gifted a new horse, only for it to injure your only child. This is surely the worst of all luck!” As she carefully set her daughter’s arm in a sling, Wei spoke calmly. “The worst luck? The best luck? Who can say? We shall see.”
[Pause and Wonder… During Your Reading] 🤔 How could a broken arm possibly turn into good luck? Brainstorm a few ideas before you continue reading.
A week later, a royal decree was announced. The Queen needed every able-bodied child in the kingdom for a long and difficult expedition into the treacherous northern mountains. When the royal guards came to Wei’s house, they saw Lian resting, her arm in a sling. “This one cannot make the journey,” the captain declared, and they moved on. All the other children of the village marched away. It was a perilous trip, and many returned exhausted and unhappy.
The neighbors came to Wei one last time, their voices hushed with respect. “You were right, Wei. Lian’s injury spared her from that dreadful journey. What we all thought was terrible fortune was actually the greatest fortune of all.”
Wei stood with her daughter, watching the sunset paint the sky. She smiled. “Good fortune? Bad fortune? It is all just the turning of a page in life’s great story. And the story is never truly over.”
After You Read 🤗
- Reading Comprehension: What were the four major events in the story, and how did the neighbors react to each one compared to how Wei reacted?
- Creative Thinking: Imagine the story continues. The children who went on the expedition return. Write a short paragraph about what one of them might say to Lian.
- Critical Thinking: Why is it sometimes difficult to tell if an event is “good luck” or “bad luck”? The story says life is a “great story” that is “never truly over.” What do you think that means?
